The American Numismatic Association’s 2008 National Money Show™ gives visitors the opportunity to see rare coins and paper notes worth millions of dollars and learn from some of the world’s foremost numismatists. The show, held March 7-9 at the Phoenix Convention Center, West Building, will feature marquee and collector exhibits, educational presentations, and hundreds of the nation’s top coin dealers.

“Money is history you can hold in your hands, depicting important people, places and events. At the National Money Show you can see everything from a half-cent to a $100,000 bill, and it’s free,” said ANA President Barry Stuppler.

The convention’s exhibits are highlighted by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s (BEP) eye-opening “Billion Dollar Display” of high denomination money. The National Money Show marks the first time these stunning and valuable specimens of paper money have been showcased in Arizona. The display includes demonstrations of an antique, one-ton, handoperated printing press to show how money was made more than a century ago. (more…)

The first issue of a book containing pictures of five thousand splendid coins belonging to Iran’s Sassanid period is soon to be published. More information will be posted as soon as we have a publication date and particulars.

Sassanid coins are decorated with original Persian patterns and minted in gold silver and copper. Golden Sassanid Drachma was used only in foreign trade, making them very rare today. Silver coins were used as the main currency and were circulated even in neighboring regions.

Iran’s national museum and the British museum are working together to compile a two-volume publication, focusing on pieces belonging to a period between the rein of Ardeshir I and Kavadh I.

The Sassanid era is considered to be one of the most important and influential historical periods in Iran, witnessing the highest achievements of Persian civilization. Many notable pieces of Pahlavi literature were written and Sassanid music reached its zenith. Many sports such as polo also emerged as pastimes for royalty in this period.

Jay Turner, NGC Grader and Attributor, examines the latest Silver Panda counterfeit that has been uncovered within the numismatic world and describes the various ways one can spot it.

The Chinese Panda has only been around since 1982 but, surprisingly, it has become one of the most widely counterfeited World coins. In previous articles, we wrote about counterfeit 2001-D and 2003 Silver Pandas. In this article, we’ll examine the diagnostics of a counterfeit 1995 “Large Twig” Silver Panda.

NGC certifies a lot of Panda coins. The series is as popular as ever with collectors. It’s especially popular among collectors participating in the NGC Registry. Each piece that NGC certifies is not only graded but checked for authenticity. Recently, a counterfeit 1995 “Large Twig” Silver Panda with unusual finish and tooling marks was submitted for grading.

In 1995, the Chinese Mints put out different varieties of Panda designs. The Mint State issues were struck at two different mints with subtly varying designs or varieties. The Shanghai Mint issue featured a panda with a “Large Twig” branch extending upwards from its hand. The Shenyang Mint had a “Small Twig” version with no branch extending beyond the panda’s hands. The Shenyang Mint or “Small Twig” also comes in Large and Small Date sub-varieties. To date, NGC has not received any submissions of counterfeit 1995 “Small Twig” Silver Pandas, and the “Large Twig” described here is the only counterfeit we have received that is dated 1995. Read Full Article 

JOSEPH TURNER for The News Tribune 

Northwest Territorial Mint is a small company, but its reach extends around the world. The company along the West Valley Highway in Auburn takes large bars of silver and gold and melts them down to make tiny bars of silver and gold so they’re more affordable to small investors.

It also mints coins for admirals, generals and military units to commemorate their rank or tours of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, and now the U.S. military wants the company to make Bronze and Silver Stars to honor its heroes.

It has quietly become the unofficial mint for 19 countries by making legal tender for nations in South America, Pacific island nations and on the European continent, countries too proud to let it be known that a small company in America – not their own treasuries – is minting their currency. Read Full Story